Self Storage Options – What Are The Key Differences?

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So you are moving house, off on holiday, downsizing or just have a whole bunch of things that you need to store cost effectively, safely and securely. Gone are the days of ringing around dozens of mates trying to find out who has some spare space out the back of a dirty shed. There are options galore, but how do they all stack up and what are the key differences between them?

The team at GCS are to the rescue, with this simple guide that will explain the key differences between the most popular storage options, and help you decide which is right for you.

What are your self storage options?

The average Aussie is going to find a whole heap of options for self storage, be it online or in the phone book. Common options include:

Shipping Containers
Custom Built Secure Storage Facilities
Portable Storage Trailers & Lockboxes
Self storage “PODS”

These various self storage choices come in a wide variety of options, sizes and prices, so what sets them apart?

Self Storage Sizes

One of the main determining factors when choosing your storage solution is going to be the size of what you wish to store.

Shipping Containers come in three main sizes, 10 foot, 20 foot and 40 foot, giving you plenty of space to store anything from a single room, to an entire household in one space. Need extra storage space? Simply get an extra container and stack it on top!

Custom built self storage facilities come in a wide variety of sizes and shapes, depending on the building being used. Extra storage space requires the rental of an extra room, which may or may not be nearby.

Portable storage trailers or Lockboxes tend to be more limited in size, due to their need to be towed by a standard car or utility vehicle. Newer options such as PODS also come in a wide variety of sizes, but tend to be significantly smaller than shipping containers, being limited to sizes such as 7, 12 and 16 feet. When it comes to size, shipping containers tend to offer the average storage customer more options, with the ability to easily scale up when extra storage is required.

Self Storage Portability

By: thierry ehrmann

Shipping containers are designed to move goods safely and securely around the world. Shipping container sizes are designed to be easily lifted onto trucks, boats, trains and even some helicopters with ease. Using Gateway Container Sales’ low cost self storage means your things won’t be stored somewhere out in the outback – but safely on Gateway Container Sales & Hire yard or your own premises, whatever you prefer!

Custom Built Self Storage Facilities are of course, permanent, and can’t be moved – so you are out of luck if you need to quickly move your things. Storage trailers can be easily moved, but their extreme portability is also a theft risk, as anyone with a towbar can theoretically run away with them. PODS are also designed to be portable, but you’ll likely need to get them to move it for you, whereas a container can be moved by anyone with a Hiab style truck.

Shipping Containers win hands down when it comes down to portability when you need it, while still being hard to steal!

Self Storage Pricing

Shipping containers are cheaper to rent than most other storage options, and if it’s long term storage you are after, shipping containers are even more cost effective when you purchase outright. Simply buy your second hand shipping container when you need it, then sell it afterwards – recouping most, of your original purchase price.

Self Storage Flexibility

Shipping containers are the most flexible of all storage options. They can be stacked high, placed side by side, added or removed as needed. This simply cannot be easily done with permanent self storage buildings. While you can hire multiple storage trailers if needed, this can be costly and they are not able to be stacked on your own site.

Need extra shelving? Containers can be modified at our on site workshop for virtually any type of goods, including document and archival storage. Try arranging that with other storage providers!

Many businesses have to store dangerous goods temporarily, such as fireworks – this is easy to do with a dangerous goods container. Try doing the same with any other storage option – the answer is likely to be no!

Need Storage Now?

Gateway Container Sales & Hire provide simply the best storage solution out there – second hand shipping containers. With shipping containers you have more choice when it comes to size, flexibility and value for money. Not only that but Gateway Container Sales & Hire is also locally owned and operated. To book your shipping container contact the expert team at Gateway Container Sales now and they will have your storage problems solved in no time!

Posted on July 17, 2014
By Mark Finnegan Storage Container Sales Shipping Container Hire